Recharged

Okay this one is going to be short and to the point.  It's 3:22 am and checkout is at 9am so that we can begin our bus ride to JFK...soooo, here it goes:

Orientation today was AMAZING! Not your average "job" orientation.  It recharged me for what I am about to be doing.  I, along with everyone else, was feeling a bit drained from all of the emotions and stress, but now everything is okay.  The other volunteers all felt the same way I did--nervous and unsure, but I really think orientation helped to push out all (or most) of our anxieties so that we can focus on the tasks ahead.  I came to realize today that I can't keep worrying about what I am leaving behind.  I need to focus on what lies ahead because that is where I will make a difference.

After our SEVEN hour orientation, a group of us went to downtown Philly to hang out and have our very last American dinner.  I had a seafood roll (crab meat, shrimp, and scallops on a yummy bread roll) and avocado fries (fried slices of avocado) and it was yummazing!  For the beverage I had a Pineapple Express (I won't be sharing those ingredients) :)  The food was great and the conversation was interesting!  I'm having a great time getting to know the other PCV's (Peace Corps Volunteers).  There are 26 of us and this is in a sense my new family, and as of right now, things are looking bright for us!

Here is the next part of the journey as I know it:

1. Checkout: 9am on May 9
2. Drive from Philly to NY on May 9
3. Depart from JFK via American Airlines: 6:10pm on May 9
4. Arrive to Brussels: 7:55am on May 10
5. Depart from Brussels via Brussels Airlines: 10:40am
6. Arrive in Kigali: 6:45pm on May 10

After this post, I'm not sure when I will have another internet connection so sit tight and check back often...tomorrow it all gets real!!

Love and Peace Corps,
Dametreea